What is a container in server management?

A container in server management refers to a lightweight, standalone package for running software. This encapsulation allows applications to be bundled together with their dependencies, libraries, and configurations, ensuring that they run consistently across different computing environments. Unlike traditional virtual machines, which include an entire operating system, containers share the host's operating system kernel while maintaining an isolated environment for each application. This makes containers much more efficient in terms of resource usage and speed, allowing for quicker deployment and scaling of applications.

Containers facilitate seamless integration and deployment in cloud environments, microservices architectures, and DevOps practices. They ensure that software behaves the same way regardless of where it is deployed, which is a key advantage in modern server management and application development.